Device for cleaning liquids or gaseous media and precipitating element for said device

ABSTRACT

A device for cleaning liquids or gaseous media, having a cup-shaped or pot-shaped housing, having an exchangeable interior precipitating element, a medium inlet for medium to be cleaned, a medium outlet for cleaned medium and a housing cover, removably connected to the housing by a connection. The housing has a first circumferential connector and the housing cover has a compatible second circumferential connector, which can be engaged and disengaged by circumferential twisting relative to each other. The first connector or the second connector have at least one interruption extending in the connector axial direction and the precipitating element has at least one positioning arm which, in the installed state of the precipitating element and when the housing cover is connected to the housing, is received at least partially in the at least one connector interruption, in a position and orientation corresponding to the connector interruption.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the German patent application No.20 2014 104 029.3 filed on Aug. 28, 2014, and of the German patentapplication No. 10 2015 103 619.3 filed on Mar. 12, 2015, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning liquid or gaseousmedia, having a cup-shaped or pot-shaped housing, having an exchangeableprecipitating element situated in the device that separates a raw mediumregion and a clean medium region in the device from each other, having amedium inlet, opening into the raw medium region, for medium to becleaned, having a medium outlet, going out from the clean medium region,for cleaned medium, and having a housing cover detachably connected tothe housing by a connection, the housing having first circumferentialconnecting means and the housing cover having second circumferentialconnecting means fitting thereto, which can be brought into and out ofengagement with each other through rotation relative to one another inthe circumferential direction. Moreover, the present invention relatesto a precipitating element for the device.

A device of the type named above and a precipitating element for thedevice are known from DE 87 14 656 U1. Specifically, this documentdescribes an oil filter for cleaning lubricant oil, in which theprecipitating element is a filter insert. On its end surface orientedtoward the medium outlet, the precipitating element has an annular endplate with which it is plugged onto the medium outlet, fashioned as apipe socket, and is in this way centered there. At its end remote fromthe medium outlet, the precipitating element has an end plate having alocking element situated at the upper side and having the shape of anundercut round recess, that, in the installed state, stands indetachable locking engagement with tongue-shaped locking elements on theinner side of the housing cover, as a result of which the precipitatingelement is also centered there.

However, in devices that are not intended to have, or cannot have, blockelements of the type described above on the precipitating element and onthe housing cover, the centering of the precipitating element at its endremote from the medium outlet is not present, which can result inundesired movements of the precipitating element in this region both inthe radial direction and in the circumferential direction, and thus toincreased wear or damage at the precipitating element and/or at thehousing and housing cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the present invention, an object therefore arises of providing adevice of the type named above and a precipitating element for saiddevice that avoids the named disadvantages, and in which a centering andfixing of the precipitating element is ensured even without the knownlocking elements. In addition, the present invention is intended to makeit possible to achieve, as needed, further desired and positiveproperties with a low outlay for production and installation.

The solution of the first part of the object, relating to the device, isachieved according to the present invention by a device of the typenamed above that is characterized in that the first connecting means orthe second connecting means have at least one interruption of theconnecting means, running in the axial direction of the connectingmeans, and that the precipitating element has at least one positioningarm that, in the installed state of the precipitating element and whenthe housing cover is connected to the housing, is received at leastpartly in the connecting means interruption in a position andorientation corresponding to the at least one connecting meansinterruption.

According to the present invention, the means for centering and fixingthe precipitating element are placed in a region of the device notpreviously used for this purpose, namely in the region of the connectionbetween the housing and housing cover of the device. In this way, it isadvantageously achieved that when the housing cover is connected to thehousing the at least one positioning arm is automatically received inthe connecting means interruption, and as a result is fixed in itsposition, which simultaneously brings about both the desired positioningand centering of the precipitating element and also its locking againstan undesired rotation in the circumferential direction. If, duringmaintenance, the connection between the housing and the housing cover isdetached, then at the same time the at least one positioning arm is alsofree, so that the precipitating element can then be removed unhinderedfrom the device and can be replaced by a new, identical precipitatingelement having a positioning arm or positioning arms. When installingthe precipitating element, attention must merely be paid to ensure thatthe at least one positioning arm comes to lie in fitting fashion in theassociated connecting means interruption. The at least one connectingmeans interruption and the associated at least one positioning arm arehere of course fashioned such that the rotation of the housing and thehousing cover relative to one another required to produce and detach theconnection between these two parts is not hindered.

In particular, for the purpose of a favorable distribution of forces, itis preferably provided that a plurality of connecting meansinterruptions are provided distributed over the circumference of thefirst connecting means or the second connecting means, and that theprecipitating element has a plurality of positioning arms situated so asto fit correspondingly with the connecting means interruptions.

In order to prevent, as completely as possible, installation of anunsuitable precipitating element in the device, and functionaldisturbances caused by this, it is proposed that the connecting means,interruptions of the first connecting means or of the second connectingmeans, and the positioning arms, form a key-lock coding with oneanother.

Preferably, for the realization of this key-lock coding, it is providedthat the connecting means, interruptions of the first connecting meansor of the second connecting means, and the positioning arms, aredistributed irregularly in the circumferential direction, and/or thatthe connecting means interruptions of the first connecting means or ofthe second connecting means, have different widths from one another inthe circumferential direction, and the positioning arms have a differentwidth, fitting thereto, in the circumferential direction.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the device, a development of thedevice provides that the/each positioning arm is detachably lockable inthe associated locking means interruption by interacting lockingelements. In this way, an easily realizable pre-assembly of theprecipitating element on the housing or on the housing cover ispossible, and as a result, installation errors can be avoided to thegreatest possible extent.

The positioning arm or arms can be situated in different ways on theprecipitating element, which itself can also have differentrealizations.

A first realization in this regard is characterized in that theprecipitating element has a hollow cylindrical basic shape having aprecipitating material body, and two end plates covering this body atits ends, and that the/each positioning arm is connected to or made inone piece with the end plates of the precipitating element, or thatthe/each positioning arm is connected to the precipitating material bodyof the precipitating element in positionally fixed fashion in thecircumferential and axial direction.

A further realization in this regard proposes that the precipitatingelement is a precipitating material body having a hollow cylindricalbasic shape and having a supporting body situated therein, and thatthe/each positioning arm is connected to or made in one piece with thesupporting body of the precipitating element. In this embodiment, theprecipitating element can be realized with or without end plates. Thus,the precipitating element here, for example, can be a fiber separator orwinding form that has no end plates and that, for example, can be usedin an oil mist separator for the crankcase ventilation gas of aninternal combustion engine.

According to a third realization in this regard, it is provided that theprecipitating element has a precipitating material body formed from twopartial precipitating material bodies, each having a hollow cylindricalbasic shape, and that two end faces, facing each other, of the twopartial precipitating material bodies are connected to one another by anintermediate plate, and that the/each positioning arm is connected to,or made in one piece with, the intermediate plate of the precipitatingelement.

In the devices considered here, during operation the housing cover mustbe connected in medium-tight fashion to the housing, in order toreliably prevent an undesired or even dangerous exit of medium from thedevice. For this purpose, between the housing and housing cover there issituated a seal that seals these from one another when the housing coveris connected to the housing. In order to ensure tightness even aftermaintenance, it is usual, or even prescribed, to replace the sealbetween the housing and housing cover during each maintenance session.Standard practice is to install a fresh seal, e.g., in the form of anO-ring, as a separate individual part in a packaged fresh precipitatingelement provided as a replacement part, so that together with theprecipitating element, the maintenance personnel also exchange the seal.However, in practice it occurs relatively frequently that, due to lackof attention or lack of knowledge, the maintenance personnel replaceonly the precipitating element but not the seal, or do not correctlyinstall the fresh seal. In order to prevent this, according to thepresent invention it is provided that the seal, or a bearer that bearsthe seal, is connected to or made in one piece with at least onepositioning arm of the precipitating element. In this way, it isadvantageously ensured that the seal is also exchanged automaticallyevery time the precipitating element is changed.

The seal, as a sealing ring, can be situated radially outwardly on theseal bearer or axially on the end face on the seal bearer.

Alternatively, the seal can be molded onto the seal bearer or can beplaced onto the seal bearer as a separately produced component.

In addition, there is the possibility that the/each positioning arm, theseal bearer, and the seal are made in one piece with each other from athermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer has properties thatare suitable for a seal.

In the device according to the present invention, the connection betweenthe housing and the housing cover having the first connecting means andthe second connecting means is preferably formed through an axialoverlap region of the housing and housing cover having interacting screwthreadings or interacting bayonet connection elements.

Finally, the device is preferably an oil filter or a fuel filter or anoil mist separator of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.In these concrete embodiments and uses, the advantageous properties ofthe device according to the present invention are put to particularlygood use.

Besides the device, the present invention also relates to aprecipitating element for a device of the type described above, thedevice having a housing and a housing cover detachably connected to thehousing, the housing having first circumferential connecting means andthe housing cover having second circumferential connecting means fittingthereto, which can be brought into and out of engagement throughrotation relative to one another in the circumferential direction, andthe precipitating element being received exchangeably in the device.

In order to achieve the second part of the object of the invention,relating to the precipitating element, the present invention proposesthat the precipitating element has at least one positioning arm that, inthe installed state of the precipitating element and when the housingcover is connected to the housing, can be received in a connecting meansinterruption that is provided in the first connecting means or in thesecond connecting means, running in the axial direction of theconnecting means. The precipitating element is thus matched to theassociated device and is specifically made to fit thereto, in order toprevent the installation of unsuitable foreign precipitating elements inthe device.

Preferably, the precipitating element has a plurality of positioningarms that are configured so as to fit correspondingly with a pluralityof connecting means interruptions.

In order to enable a key-lock coding between the precipitating elementand the rest of the device, it is provided that the positioning arms aredistributed irregularly in the circumferential direction and/or that thepositioning arms have a different width from one another in thecircumferential direction.

In order to make it possible to easily pre-mount the precipitatingelement on the housing or on the housing cover, the/each positioning armusefully has locking elements that can be detachably locked with lockingelements provided in the associated locking means interruption.

In a development, the precipitating element has a hollow cylindricalbasic shape having a precipitating material body and two end platescovering this body at its end faces, and the/each positioning arm isconnected to or made in one piece with one of the end plates of theprecipitating element, or the/each positioning arm is connected inpositionally fixed fashion to the precipitating material body of theprecipitating element in the circumferential and axial direction.

A further embodiment in this regard proposes that the precipitatingelement has a precipitating material body having a hollow cylindricalbasic shape and having a supporting body situated therein, and thatthe/each positioning arm is connected to or made in one piece with thesupporting body of the precipitating element. In this embodiment, theprecipitating element can be realized with or without end plates and canbe, for example, a fiber separator or winding form that does not haveend plates and that, for example, can be used in an oil mist separatorfor the crankcase housing ventilation gas of an internal combustionengine.

In a further alternative, the precipitating element has a precipitatingmaterial body formed from two partial precipitating material bodies,each having a hollow cylindrical basic shape, two end faces, facing oneanother, of the two partial precipitating material bodies beingconnected to one another by an intermediate plate, and the/eachpositioning arm being connected to or made in one piece with theintermediate plate of the precipitating element.

In order to obtain an additional use of the precipitating element, it isproposed that a seal, or a seal bearer bearing a seal, be connected toor made in one piece with the at least one positioning arm, the housingand the housing cover being capable of being sealed from one another bythe seal when connected to one another in the installed state of theprecipitating element.

Here the seal, for example as a sealing ring, can be situated radiallyexternally on the seal bearer or axially on the end face on the sealbearer.

Alternatively, the seal can be molded onto the seal bearer or can beplaced onto the seal bearer as a separately manufactured component.

There is also the possibility that the/each positioning arm, the sealbearer, and the seal are formed in one piece with one another from athermoplastic elastomer. One of the end plates or the intermediate platecan also be included in this one-piece part.

Finally, the precipitating element is preferably an oil filter insert ofan oil filter or a fuel filter insert of a fuel filter or an oil mistseparator insert of an oil mist separator of an internal combustionengine of a motor vehicle. In these concrete embodiments and uses, theadvantageous properties of the precipitating element are particularlywell exploited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention areexplained on the basis of a drawing.

FIG. 1 shows a first device for cleaning liquid or gaseous media, inlongitudinal section,

FIG. 1a shows the detail circled in FIG. 1 in an enlargedrepresentation,

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in cross-section along sectional lineII-II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a second device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 3 in cross-section along sectional lineB-B in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows the device of FIG. 3 in cross-section along sectional lineC-C in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 shows a precipitating element of the device of FIG. 3, in anoblique view from the top,

FIG. 7 shows a housing of the device of FIG. 3, in an oblique view fromthe top,

FIG. 8 shows a third device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 9 shows the device of FIG. 8 in cross-section along sectional lineIX-IX in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 shows a fourth device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 10a shows the detail circled in FIG. 10 in an enlargedrepresentation,

FIG. 11 shows the device of FIG. 10 in cross-section along sectionalline XI-XI in FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 shows a fifth device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 13 shows the device of FIG. 12 in cross-section along sectionalline XIII-XIII in FIG. 10,

FIG. 14 shows a sixth device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 14a shows the detail circled in FIG. 14 in an enlargedrepresentation,

FIG. 15 shows the device of FIG. 14 in cross-section along sectionalline XV-XV in FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 shows a seventh device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 16a shows the detail circled in FIG. 16 in an enlargedrepresentation,

FIG. 17 shows the device of FIG. 16 in cross-section along the sectionalline XVII-XVII in FIG. 14,

FIG. 18 shows an eighth device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 19 shows the device of FIG. 18 in cross-section along sectionalline XIX-XIX in FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 shows a housing cover of the device of FIG. 18 in an obliqueview from below,

FIG. 21 shows a precipitating element of the device of FIG. 18 in anoblique view from above,

FIG. 22 shows a ninth device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 23 shows the device of FIG. 22 in cross-section along sectionalline XXIII-XXIII in FIG. 22,

FIG. 24 shows the device of FIG. 22 in a front view,

FIG. 25 shows a precipitating element of the device of FIG. 22 in anoblique view from above,

FIG. 26 shows a housing cover of the device of FIG. 22 in an obliqueview from below,

FIG. 27 shows a housing of the device of FIG. 22 in an oblique view fromabove,

FIG. 28 shows a tenth device without housing cover in a front view,

FIG. 29 shows the device of FIG. 28 in the same representation togetherwith connecting means of the housing cover,

FIG. 30 shows an eleventh device, in a front view,

FIG. 31 shows the device of FIG. 30 in cross-section along sectionalline XXXI-XXXI in FIG. 30,

FIG. 32 shows a supporting body of the device of FIG. 30 in a top view,

FIG. 33 shows the supporting body of FIG. 32 in longitudinal section,

FIG. 34 shows a twelfth device in longitudinal section,

FIG. 35 shows the device of FIG. 34 in cross-section along sectionalline XXXV-XXXV in FIG. 34,

FIG. 36 shows a supporting body of the device of FIG. 34 in a top view,and

FIG. 37 shows the supporting body of FIG. 36 in longitudinal section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the Figures, identical parts in thevarious Figures of the drawing are always designated with the samereference characters, in order to avoid having to provide a newexplanation for each reference character for each Figure of the drawing.

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a first device 1 for cleaning liquid orgaseous media, such as lubricant oil, fuel, or crankcase ventilation gasof an internal combustion engine, in longitudinal section. Device 1 hasa cup-shaped housing 10 that is sealed at its top side by a housingcover 11. Housing 10 and housing cover 11 are detachably connected toone another by a connection 2 made up of first connecting means 20 onhousing 10 and second connecting means 21 on housing cover 11.Concretely, here connection 2 is a screw connection. For the sealbetween housing 10 and housing cover 11, when they are connected to oneanother, a circumferential seal 5 is situated between them that lies inaxially sealing fashion between a lower edge of housing cover 11 and asealing collar 16 of housing 10. In this exemplary embodiment, seal 5 isa separate individual part.

In housing 10, a precipitating element 3 is exchangeably situated, whichelement is made up of a precipitating material body 30 and an upper endplate 31 and a lower end plate 32 that enclose precipitating materialbody 30 at the end faces. Precipitating element 3 is plugged onto a pipesocket-shaped medium outlet 15, via a central perforation in lower endplate 32. Radially externally from medium outlet 15, in the floor ofhousing 10 there is provided a medium inlet 12 that opens into a rawmedium region 13 radially outside precipitating element 3. A cleanmedium region 14 is situated radially inward from precipitating materialbody 30.

Here, a plurality of positioning arms 4 are made in one piece with upperend plate 30, of which one is visible at left in FIG. 1. Positioning arm4 goes out from the radially external edge of upper end plate 31, andruns first obliquely outward and then vertically downward.

As is shown in FIG. 1 and in the enlarged detail in FIG. 1a , eachpositioning arm 4 runs through a connecting means interruption 23 insecond connecting means 21 on housing cover 11. A free end 40 ofpositioning arms 4 is here situated at a distance above seal 5 inconnecting means interruption 23. Via positioning arms 4, precipitatingelement 3 is centered inside device 1 and is fixed in rotationally fixedfashion in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 2 shows device 1 of FIG. 1 in a cross-section along sectional lineII-II in FIG. 1. Radially outwardly, first housing cover 11 issectioned. Radially inwardly therefrom, there runs circumferential wallof housing 10. Between housing 10 and housing cover 11 is situated screwconnection 2. At locations distributed uniformly around thecircumference of device 1, there are situated respective connectingmeans interruptions 23, through each of which a respective positioningarm 4 runs.

The configuration of connecting means interruption 23 and of positioningarms 4 can be varied within broad limits, and can advantageously be usedto form a key-lock coding in order to permit only particular, suitableprecipitating elements 3 to be installed in device 1.

Radially inward from the circumferential wall of housing 10 there issituated raw medium region 13, followed, further radially inward, byprecipitating material body 13 of precipitating element 3. At left inFIG. 2, a small part of medium inlet 12 is still visible radiallyoutside precipitating element 3. In the center in FIG. 2, clean mediumregion 14 is situated in the interior of precipitating element 3, andmedium outlet 15 is in the background. FIG. 2 illustrates particularlyclearly that here precipitating element 3 is received in device 1 inrotationally fixed fashion and is centered therein.

FIG. 3 shows a second device 1, again in longitudinal section. In thisdevice 1 as well, a plurality of positioning arms 4 are provided,distributed around the circumference, of which one is visible at theright in FIG. 3. Positioning arms 4 are here fashioned in one piece witha bearer ring 41 that is fixedly attached on the outer circumference ofprecipitating material body 30 in the circumferential direction and inthe axial direction, in particular by gluing or welding. Positioningarms 4 run through a connecting means interruption 22 that is fashionedin first connecting means 20 on housing 10, as is visible at top rightin FIG. 3.

On the radial outer end of positioning arms 4, these arms go over in onepiece into a seal bearer 50 on whose downward-oriented side, in theaxial direction, there is situated a seal 5 in the form of a sealingring, which is, for example, molded or glued on. In this exemplaryembodiment, seal 5 is thus an integral component of precipitatingelement 3, so that when precipitating element 3 is exchanged in thecontext of maintenance of device 1, seal 5 is automatically also changedalong with it and renewed while being necessarily correctly positioned.

In its further parts, device 1 corresponds to the exemplary embodimentdescribed above, to whose description reference is accordingly made.

FIG. 4 shows device 1 of FIG. 3 in cross-section according to thesectional line B-B in FIG. 3; here it can be seen that in this exemplaryembodiment, a total of four positioning arms 4 are provided distributedaround the circumference. Each positioning arm 4 runs through one of theconnecting means interruption 22 in housing 10. Radially inwardly,positioning arms 4 are made in one piece with bearer ring 41, which inturn is fixedly attached on the outer circumference of precipitatingmaterial body 30. Radially outwardly, positioning arms 4 go over in onepiece into seal bearer 50. Radially outwardly from seal bearer 50,housing cover 11 is sectioned. Radially inwardly from seal bearer 50,the section runs through housing 10, and in the center of FIG. 4 mediumoutlet 15 can be seen in the background.

FIG. 5 shows device 1 of FIG. 3 in cross-section according to secondsectional line C-C, running above sectional line B-B, in FIG. 3. Mediumoutlet 15 is again visible in the background in the center in FIG. 5.Precipitating material body 30 of precipitating element 3 is situatedaround this outlet. On the outer circumference thereof is seated bearingring 41, which is made in one piece with positioning arms 4, herevisible from above. Housing cover 11 runs radially externally frompositioning arms 4. Radially internally therefrom is situated thecircumferential wall of housing 10. Between housing 10 and housing cover11 is situated their connection 2, here as well in the form of a screwconnection. In the circumferential direction, the three connecting meansinterruptions 22, in which positioning arms 4 are situated, are providedin the connection.

FIG. 6 shows precipitating element 3 of device 1 from FIG. 3, in anoblique view from above. At the top, upper end plate 31 is visible, andat bottom lower end plate 32 is visible, between which there extendsprecipitating material body 30 enclosed by these plates. On the outercircumference of precipitating material body 30, bearing ring 41 isseated, fixed in the circumferential and axial direction, from whoseouter circumference positioning arms 4 extend outward in the radialdirection, in one piece. Radially externally, positioning arms 4 go overin one piece into annular circumferential seal bearing 50, which bearsseal 5 on its downward-pointing side in the axial direction.

FIG. 7 shows housing 10 of device 1 from FIG. 3 in an oblique view fromabove. Housing 10 is cup-shaped and has on its upper edge region firstconnecting means 20, in the form of a screw threading, in which thethree connecting means interruptions 22 are formed, distributed in thecircumferential direction. In this example, connecting meansinterruptions 22 extend over the entire thickness of the material ofhousing 10; alternatively, connecting means interruptions 22 can also berealized as grooves extending, from the outside, only over a part of thematerial thickness of housing 10. Below connecting means 20, sealingcollar 16 extends outward in the radial direction, going out from thecircumferential wall of housing 10.

FIG. 8 shows a third device, again in longitudinal section. Therealization of positioning arms 4 having bearing ring 41, seal bearer50, and seal 5 corresponds to the example described above. Differinghere is the configuration of positioning arms 4. In FIG. 8, these armsare situated further down, in the axial direction, on precipitatingmaterial body 30 of precipitating element 3, corresponding to thesmaller height of housing 10 and the larger height of housing cover 11,so that positioning arms 4 come to be situated in a fitting manner atthe height of the axial region of overlap of housing 10 and housingcover 11. With regard to the further individual parts in FIG. 8,reference is made to the description of the preceding exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 9 shows device 1 of FIG. 8 in cross-section according to thesectional line IX-IX in FIG. 8. Radially outwardly in FIG. 9, thesection goes through housing cover 11, and seal bearer 50 followsradially inwardly. Seal bearer 50 is made in one piece with the threepositioning arms 4 distributed around the circumference of device 1, andwith bearing ring 41, which runs around precipitating material body 30and is connected thereto. Housing 10 is sectioned radially inwardly fromseal bearer 50. Positioning arms 4 are each received by a connectingmeans interruption 22.

FIG. 10 shows a fourth device 1, also in longitudinal section. Thisembodiment of device 1 corresponds substantially to the exemplaryembodiment described above, differing in that, in the example accordingto FIG. 10, positioning arms 4 have no connection to seal bearer 50,which in FIG. 10a is also illustrated by the detail circled in FIG. 10,in an enlarged view. Positioning arms 4 however also here provide acentering and a fixing of precipitating element 3 in the circumferentialdirection of device 1.

Here, seal bearer 50 forms a separate unit together with seal 5.

FIG. 11 shows device 1 of FIG. 10 in cross-section according to thesectional line XI-XI in FIG. 10. Housing cover 11 is sectioned radiallyoutwardly, followed radially inwardly by seal bearer 50. Radiallyinwardly from this, the circumferential wall of housing 10 is sectioned.Positioning arms 4 are situated in connecting means interruptions 22 ofthe circumferential wall of housing 10, which arms go over radiallyinwardly in one piece into bearing ring 41 which is attached and fixedon the outer circumference of precipitating material body 30. In thecenter of FIG. 11, medium outlet 15 for medium cleaned in device 1 isagain visible in the background.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fifth device in longitudinal section, and incross-section according to sectional line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12. For thisexemplary embodiment, it is characteristic that precipitating materialbody 30 is formed here from two partial precipitating material bodies30′, 30″. Upper and lower end plate 31, 32 are provided at the top andbottom respectively. In addition, precipitating element 30 has anintermediate plate 33 to which the downward-pointing end face of upperpartial precipitating material body 30′ and the upward-pointing end faceof the lower partial precipitating material body 30″ are connected.

Here, a plurality of, specifically three, positioning arms 4,distributed around the circumference, are realized in one piece withintermediate plate 33, which arms extend radially outward throughconnecting means interruptions 22 in first connecting means 20 ofhousing 10, and which center precipitating element 3 in device 1 and fixit in the circumferential direction.

Radially outwardly, positioning arms 4 go over in one piece into sealbearer 50, which bears seal 5 on its lower side. In the assembled stateof device 1, seal 5 with seal bearer 50 is clamped in axially sealingfashion between housing cover 11 and sealing collar 16 on housing 10.

FIGS. 14, 14 a, and 15 show a sixth device 1 in longitudinal section inan enlarged detail and in cross-section according to sectional lineXV-XV in FIG. 14. Characteristic for this example is that a pluralityof, here five, positioning arms 4 are provided that are made in onepiece with lower end plate 32 of precipitating element 3. Here,positioning arms 4 run through connecting means interruptions 23 insecond connecting means 21 on housing cover 11. The one-piece unit madeup of lower end plate 32, positioning arms 4, and seal 5 is hereusefully made of a thermoplastic elastomer that combines the necessarymechanical properties and sealing properties.

FIGS. 16, 16 a, and 17 show a seventh device 1 in longitudinal section,in an enlarged detail, and in cross-section according to sectional lineXVII-XVII in FIG. 16. In this example, positioning arms 4 are connectedto lower end plate 32 of precipitating element 3; concretely, they areglued or welded by means of bearing ring 41. Bearing ring 41 andpositioning arms 4 are here fashioned in one piece with each other.

Positioning arms 4 here run in the direction from bottom to top throughconnecting means interruptions 22 in connecting means 20 on housing 10.At their upward-pointing end region, positioning arms 4 are realized inone piece with circumferential seal bearer 50, which for its part bearson its upper side seal 5, which seals housing 10 and housing cover 11from one another when they are connected to one another.

FIGS. 18 through 21 show an eighth device, shown in longitudinal sectionin FIG. 18 and shown in FIG. 19 in cross-section according to sectionalline XIX-XIX in FIG. 18. In FIG. 20, housing cover 11 of device 1 isshown in an oblique view from below, and in FIG. 21 precipitatingelement 3 of device 1 is shown in a front view.

Characteristic for this exemplary embodiment is that only a singlepositioning arm 4 is provided, which here is realized in one piece withupper end plate 31 of precipitating element 3, and extends at firstobliquely and then vertically downward therefrom. Here, positioning arms4 run through a connecting means interruption 23 in connecting means 21on the inner circumference of housing cover 11.

In precipitating element 3, specifically in the interior ofprecipitating material body 30, here there is situated a hollowcylindrical, grid-shaped supporting body 34 that protects precipitatingmaterial body 30 from collapsing during operation when there is a flowin the radial direction from the outside to the inside.

Annular peripheral seal bearer 50 is connected in one piece to theaxially lower end region of positioning arm 4, said bearer having on itsouter circumference seal 5 in the form of a sealing ring having arectangular cross-section. In the assembled state of device 1, visiblein FIG. 18, seal 5 is situated in an axially sealing fashion betweensealing collar 16 of housing 10 and housing cover 11. Here as well, thesingle positioning arm 4 provides a centering of precipitating element 3in device 1 and provides a rotational securing of precipitating element3 in the circumferential direction.

FIG. 20 illustrates the situation of connecting means 21 on the innercircumference of housing cover 11, with the single connecting meansinterruption 23 situated therein.

FIG. 21 illustrates, in particular, the one-piece realization of upperend plate 31 of precipitating element 3 with the single positioning arm4, and with seal bearer 50 made in one piece therewith. Here, seal 5 issituated on the outer circumference of seal bearer 50, either infloating fashion or alternatively in fixed fashion, being, for example,glued or welded thereon.

In the previously described exemplary embodiments, connecting means 20on housing 10 and connecting means 21 on housing cover 11 areinteracting screw threadings. In FIGS. 22 through 29, exemplaryembodiments are shown in which connecting means 20 and 21 are formed bybayonet connection elements instead of screw threadings. Connectingmeans 20, 21 realized as bayonet connection elements are also situatedin the region of overlap of housing 10 and housing cover 11, and formtheir connection 2, which can be produced and detached through rotationrelative to one another. Differently than shown here, the bayonetconnection means can also extend respectively over the entirecircumference of the region of overlap of the housing and housing cover.

Here, three positioning arms 4, distributed around the circumference,are provided; the number of these arms can of course also be smaller orgreater. Positioning arms 4 are fashioned in one piece with bearing ring41, which is fixed on the outer circumference of precipitating materialbody 30 of precipitating element 3. In addition, a holding arm 42 isassigned to each positioning arm 4, and is made in one piece therewith,the holding arm extending upward in the axial direction from positioningarm 4 up to upper end plate 31 of precipitating element 3, and beingconnected to the edge thereof, for example by welding or gluing orlocking.

Each positioning arm 4 here extends through a connecting meansinterruption 22 in connecting means 20 on housing 10, as can be seen atthe upper right in FIG. 22.

Here, the separate, annular seal bearing 50 having seal 5 attached onits lower side runs radially externally from positioning arms 4, withoutbeing connected thereto.

Alternatively to the representation shown in FIG. 22, positioning arms 4can also be connected to seal bearer 50 or can be made in one piecetherewith, if a unit of precipitating element 3 and seal 5, so that theycan be exchanged together, is desired.

FIG. 23 shows device 1 of FIG. 22 in a cross-section along sectionalline XXIII-XXIII in FIG. 22, running through sealing collar 16 ofhousing 10. Radially inward therefrom is situated raw medium region 13,followed further inward by precipitating material body 30 ofprecipitating element 3. In the center thereof is situated clean mediumregion 14, with outlet 15 visible in the background. At the far right,in the interior of housing 10 a small part of medium inlet 12 situatedunder precipitating element 3 is still visible.

FIG. 24 shows assembled device 1 in an external view, housing 10 beingvisible at bottom and housing cover 11 being visible at top. Concealedbetween these there is situated their connection 2, which can bedetached by a rotation relative to one another.

FIG. 25 shows precipitating element 3 of device 1 according to FIGS. 22through 24, as an individual part. Precipitating material body 30 isenclosed at the top by upper end plate 31 and at the bottom by lower endplate 32. Bearing ring 41 is fastened on the outer circumference ofprecipitating material body 30, which ring is made in one piece withpositioning arms 4 and holding arms 42. Holding arms 42 extend up to theradially external edge of upper end plate 31 and are connected thereto.

Seal bearer 50 with seal 5 runs radially externally to positioning arms4. Seal bearer 50 and seal 5 can form a separate unit not connected topositioning arms 4. Alternatively, seal bearer 50 can be connected to ormade in one piece with positioning arms 4.

FIG. 26 shows housing cover 11 of device 1 from FIG. 22, in an obliqueview from below, so that the view extends into the interior of housingcover 11, where two elements of the bayonet connection elements arevisible on the inner circumference of the housing cover, as secondconnecting means 21 of connection 2 between housing 10 and housing cover11.

FIG. 27 shows housing 10 of device 1 from FIG. 22, in an oblique viewfrom above, no precipitating element 3 being installed here. In theupper edge region of housing 10, forming the region of overlap tohousing cover 11, above radially externally situated sealing collar 16the first connecting means 20 can be seen as bayonet connectionelements, which essentially run in the circumferential direction.Transverse to first connecting means 20, and partly intersecting these,connecting means interruptions 22 for receiving positioning arms 4,which form a part of precipitating element 3 (not installed here), runin the axial direction.

FIGS. 28 and 29 show a modification of device 1 from FIGS. 22 through27, having installed precipitating element 3, but without housing cover11, in a front view.

Connecting means interruptions 22, running in the axial direction, hereintersect first connecting means 20, running essentially in thecircumferential direction, these connecting means here again beingrealized as bayonet connection elements, as is shown in FIG. 28.Positioning arms 4 are here again made in one piece with a respectiveholding arm 42, each running in the axial direction up to the radiallyexternal edge of upper end plate 31. On the outward-pointing side ofholding arms 42, in each case there is integrally formed a ramp 43 thatruns at an angle, that, when precipitating element 3 is installed, formsa contour that is continuous with first connecting means 20 on housing10.

Via this continuous contour formed by ramp 43 and first connecting means20, when housing cover 11 is attached and is rotated relative to housing10, in each case the second connecting means 21 situated in housingcover 11 can be guided into their position corresponding to the closedposition of housing cover 11, as is illustrated in FIG. 29 with secondconnecting means 21 depicted therein.

FIG. 30 shows an eleventh device 1, again in longitudinal section. Thisdevice 1 has a cup-shaped housing 10 that is sealed at the top by ahousing cover 11. Housing 10 and housing cover 11 are detachablyconnected to one another by a connection 2 made up of first connectingmeans 20 on housing 10 and second connecting means 21 on housing cover11. Specifically, here connection 2 is also a screw connection. For theseal between housing 10 and housing cover 11, when they are connected toeach other, between these there is situated a circumferential seal 5that lies in axially sealing fashion between a lower edge of housingcover 11 and a sealing collar 16 of housing 10. In this exemplaryembodiment, seal 5 is a separate sealing ring.

In housing 10, a precipitating element 3 is exchangeably situated thatis made up of a hollow cylindrical precipitating material body 30, herenot having end plates. Radially externally to medium outlet 15, in thefloor of housing 10 there is provided a medium inlet 12 that opens intoa raw medium region 13 radially outside precipitating element 3.Radially inwardly from precipitating material body 30 there is situateda clean medium region 14.

In the interior of precipitating material body 30 there is situated asupporting body 34 that protects precipitating material body 30 fromcollapsing during operation when there is a flow radially from theoutside to the inside. At its upper end face, supporting body 34 isclosed by an end wall 35, which here is made in one piece with the restof supporting body 34. With the lower end of supporting body 34,precipitating material body 30 is plugged onto a pipe socket-shapedmedium outlet 15 that is situated centrally at bottom in housing 10.

Here, a plurality of positioning arms 4 are made in one piece with theupper end of supporting body 34, of which arms one is visible at left inFIG. 30. Positioning arm 4 goes out from the axially upper edge ofsupporting body 34, and runs first radially outward and then radiallyoutward from precipitating material body 30 axially downward.

Each positioning arm 4 runs through a connecting means interruption 23in second connecting means 21 on housing cover 11. An outer end ofpositioning arms 4 here lies immediately above seal 5 in connectingmeans interruption 23. Via positioning arms 4, precipitating element 3is centered in device 1, and is fixed in rotationally fixed fashion inthe circumferential direction.

At its free end, positioning arms 4 go over in one piece into an annularcircumferential seal bearer 50 that bears seal 5 on its outercircumference.

FIG. 31 shows device 1 of FIG. 30 in cross-section according tosectional line XXXI-XXXI in FIG. 30. Housing cover 11 is sectionedradially outwardly. Radially inwardly therefrom, there runs thecircumferential wall of housing 10. Between housing 10 and housing cover11 is situated screw connection 2. Connecting means interruptions 23 aresituated at each of five locations distributed uniformly around thecircumference of device 1, and one of the positioning arms 4 runsthrough each of these interruptions.

In this embodiment of device 1 as well, the configuration of connectingmeans interruptions 23 and positioning arms 4 interacting there with canbe varied within broad limits, and can advantageously be used to form akey-lock coding in order to permit the installation only of particular,suitable precipitating elements 3 in device 1.

Radially inwardly from the circumferential wall of housing 10 there issituated raw medium region 13, followed radially further inward byprecipitating material body 30 of precipitating element 3. In the centerof FIG. 31, clean medium region 14 is situated in the interior ofprecipitating element 3, and medium outlet 15 is situated in thebackground. FIG. 31 shows that here as well, precipitating element 3 isreceived in rotationally fixed fashion in device 1 and is centeredtherein, even when precipitating element 3 does not have end plates.

FIG. 32 shows supporting body 34 of device 1 of FIG. 30 in a top view.The five positioning arms 4 go outward in the radial direction from theend of supporting body 34 that faces the observer and is sealed by endwall 35, and these arms then bend downward. At their free ends,positioning arms 4 go over into annular, circumferential seal bearer 50.

FIG. 33 shows the supporting body of FIG. 32 in longitudinal section. Inthe installed state, supporting body 34 lies with its central,grid-shaped part against the inner circumference of precipitatingmaterial body 30 of precipitating element 3. Positioning arms 4 gooutward in the radial direction from the upper end of supporting body34, sealed by end wall 35, and then bend downward. At their free, lowerends, positioning arms 4 go over in one piece into annular,circumferential seal bearer 50.

FIG. 34 shows a twelfth device 1, in longitudinal section, which is amodification of device 1 according to FIG. 30. Differing here is that inthe embodiment according to FIG. 34 end wall 35, which seals supportingbody 34, is countersunk in the upper, pipe-shaped part of supportingbody 34.

FIG. 35 shows device 1 of FIG. 34 in cross-section according tosectional line XXXV-XXXV in FIG. 34. With regard to the parts visible inFIG. 35, reference is made to the description of FIG. 31, which to thisextent agrees therewith.

FIG. 36 shows supporting body 34 of device 1 of FIG. 34 in a top view,in which end wall 35 is countersunk in supporting body 34.

FIG. 37 shows a supporting body 34 of FIG. 36 in longitudinal section.Here as well, it is clearly visible that end wall 35 is countersunk inthe pipe-shaped upper part of supporting body 34.

In other respects, the example shown in FIGS. 34 through 37 correspondsto the example of FIGS. 30 through 33, to whose description reference ismade.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention issusceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modificationswhich may differ particularly from those that have been described in thepreceding specification and description. It should be understood that Iwish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all suchmodifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of mycontribution to the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   1 device-   10 housing-   11 housing cover-   12 medium inlet-   13 raw medium region-   14 clean medium region-   15 medium outlet-   16 sealing collar on 10-   2 connection between 10 and 11-   20 first connecting means on 10-   21 second connecting means on 11-   22 connecting means interruption in 20-   23 connecting means interruption in 21-   24 locking element in 23-   3 precipitating element-   30 precipitating material body-   30′, 30″ partial precipitating material body-   31 (upper) end plate at the cover-   32 (lower) end plate remote from the cover-   33 intermediate plate-   34 supporting body in 3-   35 end wall-   4 positioning arm(s)-   40 free end of 4-   41 bearer ring-   42 holding arms between 31 and 41-   43 ramp-   44 locking element on 4-   5 seal-   50 seal bearer

1-26. (canceled)
 27. A device for cleaning liquid or gaseous media,comprising: a cup-shaped or pot-shaped housing, having an exchangeableprecipitating element situated in the device, which element separates araw medium region and a clean medium region in the device from oneanother, having a medium inlet, opening into the raw medium region, formedium to be cleaned, having a medium outlet, going out from the cleanmedium region, for cleaned medium, a housing cover detachably connectedto the housing by a connection, the housing having first circumferentialconnecting means and the housing cover having second circumferentialconnecting means fitted thereto, which connecting means can be broughtinto and out of engagement through rotation relative to one another inthe circumferential direction, wherein, one of the first connectingmeans or the second connecting means has at least one connecting meansinterruption running in the connecting means axial direction, andwherein the precipitating element has at least one positioning arm that,in the installed state of the precipitating element and when the housingcover is connected to the housing, is received at least partly in theconnecting means interruption, running in a position and orientationcorresponding to the at least one connecting means interruption.
 28. Thedevice as recited in claim 27, wherein a plurality of connecting meansinterruptions are provided distributed around the circumference of oneof the first connecting means or the second connecting means, andwherein the precipitating element has a plurality of positioning armsconfigured so as to fit correspondingly to the connecting meansinterruptions.
 29. The device as recited in claim 28, wherein theconnecting means interruptions of one of the first connecting means orthe second connecting means and the positioning arms form a key-lockcoding with each other.
 30. The device as recited in claim 29, whereinat least one of: the connecting means interruptions of one of the firstconnecting means or the second connecting means and the positioning armsare irregularly distributed in the circumferential direction, or theconnecting means interruptions of one of the first connecting means orthe second connecting means have different widths from one another inthe circumferential direction, and the positioning arms have a differingwidth, fitting thereto, in the circumferential direction.
 31. The deviceas recited in claim 27, wherein each at least one positioning arm isdetachably lockable in the associated connecting means interruption byinteracting locking elements.
 32. The device as recited in claim 27,wherein the precipitating element has a hollow cylindrical basic shapehaving a precipitating material body and having two end plates sealingthis body at its ends, and wherein either each at least one positioningarm is one of connected to, or made in one piece with, one of the endplates of the precipitating element, or each at least one positioningarm is connected to the precipitating material body of the precipitatingelement in positionally fixed fashion in the circumferential directionand in the axial direction.
 33. The device as recited in claim 27,wherein the precipitating element has a precipitating material bodyhaving a hollow cylindrical basic shape and having a supporting bodysituated therein, and wherein each at least one positioning arm iseither connected to, or made in one piece with, the supporting body ofthe precipitating element.
 34. The device as recited in claim 27,wherein the precipitating element has a precipitating material bodyformed from two partial precipitating material bodies, each having ahollow cylindrical basic shape, and wherein two end faces, facing oneanother, of the two partial precipitating material bodies are connectedto one another via an intermediate plate, and wherein each at least onepositioning arm is either connected to, or made in one piece with, theintermediate plate of the precipitating element.
 35. The device asrecited in claim 27, wherein between the housing and the housing coverthere is situated a seal that seals these from each other when thehousing cover is connected to the housing, and wherein one of the seal,or a seal bearer that bears the seal, is one of connected to, or made inone piece with, the at least one positioning arm.
 36. The device asrecited in claim 35, wherein the seal is situated, as a sealing ring,either radially externally on the seal bearer or axially at the end faceon the seal bearer.
 37. The device as recited in claim 36, wherein theseal is either molded onto the seal bearer, or is placed onto the sealbearer as a separately produced component.
 38. The device as recited inclaim 35, wherein each at least one positioning arm, the seal bearer,and the seal are formed in one piece with one another from athermoplastic elastomer.
 39. The device as recited in claim 27, whereinthe connection between the housing and the housing cover having thefirst connecting means and the second connecting means is formed by anaxial region of overlap of the housing and housing cover having one ofinteracting screw threadings or interacting bayonet connection elements.40. The device as recited in claim 27, comprising one of an oil filter,a fuel filter, or an oil mist separator of an internal combustion engineof a motor vehicle.
 41. A precipitating element for a device as recitedin claim 27, the device having a housing and having a housing coverconnected detachably to the housing, the housing having firstcircumferential connecting means and the housing cover having secondcircumferential connecting means fitting thereto, which can be broughtinto and out of engagement through rotation relative to one another inthe circumferential direction, and the precipitating element configuredto be received exchangeably in the device, wherein the precipitatingelement has at least one positioning arm that, in the installed state ofthe precipitating element and when the housing cover is connected to thehousing, is configured to be received in a connecting means interruptionthat is provided in one of the first connecting means or the secondconnecting means, running in the axial direction of the connectingmeans.
 42. The precipitating element as recited in claim 41, wherein theprecipitating element has a plurality of positioning arms that areconfigured so as to fit correspondingly to a plurality of connectingmeans interruptions.
 43. The precipitating element as recited in claim42, wherein the positioning arms are at least one of distributedirregularly in the circumferential direction have a different width fromone another in the circumferential direction.
 44. The precipitatingelement as recited in claim 41, wherein each at least one positioningarm has locking elements that are detachably lockable with lockingelements provided in the associated connecting means interruption. 45.The precipitating element as recited in claim 41, wherein theprecipitating element has a hollow cylindrical basic shape having aprecipitating material body and two end plates that cover this body atits ends, and wherein each at least one positioning arm is one ofconnected to, made in one piece with one of the end plates of theprecipitating element, or connected in a positionally fixed fashion tothe precipitating material body of the precipitating element in thecircumferential direction and in the axial direction.
 46. Theprecipitating element as recited in claim 41, wherein the precipitatingelement has a precipitating material body having a hollow cylindricalbasic shape and having a supporting body situated therein, and that eachat least one positioning arm is either connected to, or made in onepiece with, the supporting body of the precipitating element.
 47. Theprecipitating element as recited in claim 41, wherein the precipitatingelement has a precipitating material body formed from two partialprecipitating material bodies each having a hollow cylindrical basicshape, and wherein two end faces, facing one another, of the two partialprecipitating material bodies are connected to one another via anintermediate plate, and that each at least one positioning arm is eitherconnected to, or made in one piece with, the intermediate plate of theprecipitating element.
 48. The precipitating element as recited in claim27, wherein either a seal, or a seal bearer that bears a seal, is eitherconnected to, or made in one piece with, the at least one positioningarm, the housing and the housing cover being sealable against oneanother by the seal when they are connected to one another in theinstalled state of the precipitating element.
 49. The precipitatingelement as recited in claim 48, wherein the seal is situated, as asealing ring, either radially externally on the seal bearer or axiallyat the end face on the seal bearer.
 50. The precipitating element asrecited in claim 49, wherein the seal is either molded onto the sealbearer or is placed onto the seal bearer as a separately producedcomponent.
 51. The precipitating element as recited in claim 48, whereineach at least one positioning arm, the seal bearer, and the seal areformed in one piece with one another from a thermoplastic elastomer. 52.The precipitating element as recited in claim 27, comprising one of anoil filter insert of an oil filter, a fuel filter insert of a fuelfilter, or an oil mist separator insert of an oil mist separator, of aninternal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.